Improving lamb survival on leguminous pasture

Summary

This producer demonstration site project aims to evaluate and demonstrate the effectiveness of using a precision approach to diagnostic testing to ensure sufficient fibre is included in the diet of finishing lambs to mitigate incidences of red gut related deaths when grazing leguminous pastures.

Objectives

Outcomes:

By December 2028, in the northern/midlands region of Tasmania, this PDS will engage 10 core producers and 100 observer producers, establishing 4 demonstrations sites to achieve:

• Four producers will have demonstrated the effectiveness of diverse diets, with a roughage content of greater than 25%, in mitigating red gut in lamb finishing flocks by using diagnostic testing methods to quantify and manage occurrences of the condition.
  • Autopsy and laboratory sampling will provide evidence of the cause of death of at least 60% of the total lamb mortality found on each PDS.
  • A cost benefit and gross margin analysis will determine the economic impacts of the comparative feed base changes, diagnostics testing and productivity outcomes over the lifetime of the animal and the effect these have on productivity and economic performance.
• Practice change – 90% of core group members will adopt and 40% of observer producers will intend to adopt the practices demonstrated to reduce occurrences of red gut on-farm and improve animal welfare.
• Practice change – 90% of core group members will adopt and 40% of observer producers will intend to adopt the practice of diagnostic testing to identify and manage SDS conditions.
• Knowledge and skills – 95% of core group members will be competent in identifying red gut and other SDS conditions through diagnostic testing allowing them to manage feed intake, animal nutrition and animal health of finishing lambs to alleviate occurrence of the condition.
• Knowledge and skills – 40% of observer producers will have improved knowledge and confidence to attempt to identify red gut and other SDS conditions through diagnostic testing and will consider the practices demonstrated to alleviate occurrence of the condition in finishing lambs.

• Conduct four annual field days and other extension activities to showcase the demonstration site results and encourage adoption of key practices delivered to 100 attending producers and industry stakeholders.

Outputs:

• four case studies will summarise the key findings of the demonstration sites to date.
• a case study will summarise the findings of the whole PDS project.
• a ready reckoner tool of nutritional value of forage options, production expectations and animal health risks will be developed for irrigated lamb finishing systems in Tasmania.
• a cost benefit and gross margin analysis will be produced which will compare each demonstration site to determine the financial associations of conducting diagnostic testing and feed base changes on business productivity and profitability metrics.
• four field days will have presented the demonstration site management strategies to increase the knowledge and awareness of the observer producer group.
• a factsheet on ‘how to’ conduct an autopsy and identify SDS symptoms will have been produced.